Biography for
Coralina Cataldi-Tassoni More at IMDbPro »

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Coralina Cataldi-Tassoni was born in Manhattan, immersed in a rich family history spanning countless generations and countries.

The daughter of two globally prominent opera figures and granddaughter of a Maestro who studied under Mascagni and conducted for Giacomo Puccini.

Coralina began her career with her father's opera company and, by the age of three, had a singing role in Puccini's La Boheme. She became an active performing member of this company until her early teens, when she joined her father as assistant stage director in prestigious opera theaters around the world.

Despite her love for the opera world, Coralina felt herself drawn to film. Not long after making this choice, having studied acting in the Unites States and Italy, she starred in In Cerca D'Amore, a segment of the TV show Passione Mia,produced by acclaimed actress Monica Vitti.

Her on screen acting skills and on-screen charisma caught the attention of acclaimed filmmaker Dario Argento, who cast her as the lead Sally, in his production of Lamberto Bava's Demons 2. Her lively performance in the movie prompted Argento to write the role of Giulia expressly for her in his next movie, Opera.

Both roles have become iconic figures for fans all around the world.

Following Opera's success, several directors (Dario Argento, Lamberto Bava, Pupi Avati, Luciano Odorisio, Andrea Manni, to name a few) have written roles expressly for Coralina and worked with her on more than one occasion.

Coralina was offered a scholarship to the internationally recognized training center for improvisation: Second City, in Chicago. Director Luciano Odorisio whom Coralina had worked with on La Monaca Di Monza and Via Paradiso, had always noticed along with her strong dramatic skills a unique skill for comedy and urged her to accept this offer. She took this advice to heart and,along with her desire for a new artistic venture, returned to the United States.

After attending Second City and performing on staged in Chicago. Dario Argento cast Coralina once more in his re-imagining of Gaston Leroux's Phantom Of The opera. Performing alongside Asia Argento and British actor Julian Sands, Coralina was privileged to have the role of Honorine, a character invented exclusively for the film.

In recent years, Coralina composed and produced her debut album Limbo Balloon, containing eclectic works which embody an array of influences from rock and roll to Opera. She has performed her music in venues in the USA and Canada.

Coralina then began to experiment with her lifelong ambition to paint. A self-taught artist, Coralina's solo exhibits have gathered high praise within Manhattan's gallery scene. Many of her pieces have since been displayed in the USA and Europe. Her clientèle includes many illustrious filmmakers and performers.

Lamberto Bava, cast Coralina as a lead (Elizabeth) in his supernatural thriller Ghost Son, shot in South Africa where she performed alongside John Hannah (The Mummy), Laura Harring (Mullholand Drive), and Academy Award nominee Pete Postlethwaite.

Upon completion of this film, Dario Argento cast Coralina in the pivotal role of Giselle in the final chapter of his long awaited "Three Mothers Trilogy" - The Mother Of Tears . As with all his previous collaborations, the director created the role of Giselle specifically for her.

In 2008 Coralina was recipient of the Best Actress Award at Fright Nights in Austria for The Dirt: a film directed by the legendary Claudio Simonetti, front-man of the band Goblin and composer of the soundtracks for numerous movies,along with his sister Simona Simonetti. The film also won a Special Award at Rome's Fantafestival '08.

Journalist/writer Filippo Brunamonti approached her to write her biography titled: Coralina: A True Life, due out in 2009. To promote the launch of the book Coralina wrote and co-directed along with renowned director Mariano the book trailer.

She has just completed co-writing the film Hidden with director Mariano Baino. The lead role of Haley in the film was created expressly for Coralina.

Coralina divides her time between residences in Manhattan and Rome.

Trivia

Is bi-lingual; fluent in both English and Italian.

Performed in Puccini's La Boheme at age three. Her grandfather worked with Puccini around the turn of the century.

Was discovered by Dario Argento after appearing on Italian television in the mid-1980s.